Will there be a $600 increase in Social Security's SSI benefit in July 2025? Here's what we know

A false claim circulating widely on Facebook, TikTok, and other social media platforms suggests that all Social Security recipients will receive a $600 monthly cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) starting in 2025. The rumor has been gaining traction online, but it’s entirely untrue.

This rumor began gaining traction in early 2025, spreading through misleading headlines and social media posts that claimed the federal government had approved a special $600 payment for Social Security beneficiaries.

Some versions of the story said this money would be delivered in June 2025, while others implied it was back pay for inflation or a special relief bonus that would automatically show up in beneficiaries’ bank accounts. In reality, none of these claims are based on fact.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been clear: there is no law, executive order, or regulation that authorizes any one-time or monthly $600 benefit increase for people receiving Social Security. Instead, what is being misinterpreted is the annual cost-of-living adjustment, which is standard and based on federal calculations of inflation.

What’s the COLA for 2025?

In fact, the official COLA for 2025 is 2.5 percent, calculated using inflation figures from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

That percentage increase was announced by the SSA in October of the previous year and is based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For someone who currently receives $2,000 per month in benefits, the 2.5 percent increase adds up to roughly $50 per month. That would total $600 over the entire year. This misunderstanding has led many to mistakenly believe a large monthly bonus is on the way.

The timing has also been misrepresented. While the rumor claims payments will begin in June, the actual COLA increase starts with January 2025 checks. That’s standard procedure and part of the SSA‘s routine process to help benefits keep pace with inflation, not a new or special policy.

In the weeks following the rumor’s viral rise, SSA call centers were flooded with over 463,000 additional calls. The surge overwhelmed staff and delayed help for people with urgent, legitimate questions about their benefits. Worse still, scammers seized the opportunity to prey on vulnerable Americans.

By impersonating SSA representatives, these fraudsters requested personal details like Social Security numbers, bank account information, and Medicare IDs. These scams are particularly dangerous because they target elderly or disabled individuals who rely on Social Security to meet their daily needs and may be less equipped to identify deception.

To avoid falling victim to scams or being misled by false claims, it’s critical to understand how COLA works. The SSA reviews inflation trends from July through September and announces any increase in October. Those adjustments are then reflected in January checks the following year.